Saturday, January 2, 2016

Mercy of the Lord in That Day 2 Timothy 1:18


As he sat in a prison in Rome while awaiting his death for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul the apostle felt abandoned by everyone except “Onesiphorus” who searched for him “very diligently” until he found him and ministered to him often. Though other people were “ashamed” of Paul's “chain”, “Onesiphorus” “refreshed” Paul in his plight. In chapter one and verse eighteen of his letter to Timothy, Paul wrote a special blessing that “Onesiphorus” “may find mercy of the Lord” where we read:

The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day:
and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, you know very well.

The verse begins, “The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day:” Paul began with, “The Lord” who is “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding or the master, and the title given to the Messiah, the anointed one of God” “grant” or “give, supply, furnish and present” “unto him” concerning “Onesiphorus”, “that he may find” which means “come upon, meet with, discover, detect and recognize” “mercy” which is “kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted joined with a desire to help them and not receiving what one deserves” “of the Lord” or “from, at or beside the Messiah, the anointed one of God” “in that day” which refers to “the day of death and of judgment, when Christ will account all the good offices done to his poor members as done to himself.” Because “Onesiphorus” sought out and ministered to Paul, Paul's desire was that the Lord minister unto him in the day of judgment.

The verse continues, “and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, you know very well.” Paul goes on to add, “and in how many things” or “as great as, as far as, how much, more things” “he ministered unto” which means “served, attended, waited upon and rendered ministry to” “me at Ephesus” which is a reference to “Onesiphorus” serving Paul in city of “Ephesus” which means “permitted” “you know very well” or “have knowledge of, perceive and understand better or even more”. Paul knew Timothy was aware of the way “Onesiphorus” ministered to him while he was in Ephesus, and because he continued that service by seeking him out in Rome, Paul desired a special blessing of “mercy of the Lord in that day” be upon him.

While we meditate upon Paul's words, let us be sure to see the benefit of ministering and serving others. Often a person who “serves” another without being in the limelight goes unnoticed by men, however, we must remember the Lord watches and knows everything. “Onesiphorus” ministered to Paul while he was in Ephesus, and his care for him continued as he found him in Rome. Jesus said in the gospel of Mark in chapter ten and verses forty-three and forty-four:

...but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
And whosoever of you will be the chief, shall be servant of all.”

No doubt “Onesiphorus” discovered this truth, and now it is our turn to hear, receive and act upon the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and may He extend “mercy” to us all “in that day” because we obeyed Him.

Next time we begin another chapter and find Paul encouraging Timothy to “be strong in the grace of the Lord Jesus”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.




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